HYPERPROLACTINEMIA IN MEN WITH ASTHENOZOOSPERMIA, OLIGOZOOSPERMIA, ORAZOOSPERMIA

The role of serum prolactin (PRL) in male infertility is still unclear . To assess the clinical significance of PRL determination during infe rtility studies, serum hormones and semen samples from 167 men attendi ng the Andrology Clinic were analyzed, and PRL seric values were corre lated with volume, sperm count, motility, viability, and morphology. T he range of PRL levels (ng/mL) was 7.3 +/- 2.1 in the control group (n = 46), 13.9 +/- 6.6 in asthenozoospermic (n = 51), 12.6 +/- 7.8 in ol igozoospermic (n = 42), and 10.9 +/- 4.8 in azoospermic patients (n = 28). Significantly higher (p < .0001) levels of PRL were found in the men with asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, and azoospermia. In the 1 21 infertile patients with abnormal semen analysis, serum PRL levels w ere below 14.0 ng/mL (normal mean + 3 SD) in 81 (66.9%) and above this level in 40 (33.1%) cases. Serum FSH and LH concentrations in azoospe rmic men were significantly higher (p < .0001) when compared with thos e of the control group, which indicates some disturbance of the sperma togenic process, and estradiol was significantly higher (p < .02) in o ligozoospermic patients. No significant differences were found in seru m testosterone. Twenty-one patients with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospe rmia and hyperprolactinemia were treated with 2.5 mg of bromocriptine daily for 6 months, resulting in a nonmeasurable effect on their sperm analysis. In conclusion, two-thirds of patients with oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and azoospermia have normal PRL levels. Infertilit y in men due to moderate hyperprolactinemia could be associated with t hese sperm disturbances, but bromocriptine was of no therapeutic utili ty.